Help choosing a folder.

A

Arfropubes

Joined
Apr 3, 2011
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I am a fixed blade guy but have had a few benchmade but now it seems there are more options for quality folders then just BM.

I keep reading about ZT and they do look nice but how do they compare to Bm ?

remember as I said the only exp I have is with benchmade.

Thanks

Shayne.
 
ZT fit and finish is equal to mid-grade to high-grade Benchmade. Hard to get much better than that with a production knife, really.

What you really get is more: More blade length, more blade width, more blade thickness, more handle, thicker lockbar, and so on. Many here on BF are unabashed ZT fans, and use them to cut metal banding, drywall, and more stuff that should do as much damage to the blade as the blade does to it! Except that with these, it doesn't.

If you want ZT attributes, but want to stay with Benchmade, check the Adamas. It's big and tough, and fills the same role as the ZT knives.
 
ZT knives have the same quality as the good Benchmade's, or better.
The knives have great materials and are priced well, especially with being made in the USA.
I've owned several ZT's and have never been disappointed. The quality and fit and finish are top shelf.
If you want a nice folder that can handle anything - ZT is an excellent choice.

Since you're kind of new to folders, check out other brands too. Find what you really like.
Spyderco is the best bang for your buck knives around. They use top shelf materials, excellent fit and finish, and crazy good prices. Not all of their knives are made in the USA, but their Taichung Taiwan knives have the fit and finish of knives 5 times the price. They're amazing.

If you want a tough folder - You may look at the Spyderco Tuff(3V steel, Ti Frame Lock, Heavy use folder for around the same price of a upper end ZT).
DPX H.E.S.T. 2.0 - D2 Steel, Ti Frame Lock, Great knife.
And of course ZT has awesome hard use tough knives.

I'd really take a look at all kinds of knives. There are so many great choices.
 
Generally speaking, ZT's are more heavy duty than your average Benchmade. The blade stock is thicker, the stand-offs are bigger, the lockup is rock-solid, etc. The Benchmade 275 Adamas is comparable to the ZT0200.

ZT arew generally speaking more "high-end", which shows in their use of titanium for the framelocks, 3D sculpted scales, S35V and Elmax steel, etc., which also reflects on the price. Generally speaking, your average ZT costs quite a bit more than your average Benchmade.
 
I have and have used folders from both companies and they are both great. IMHO, the ZT asks to be used a little harder and isn't afraid to get dirty.
 
ZT is owned by Kershaw and is roughly analogous to the Benchmade Black Class line. The tendency seems to be that, in general, you get somewhat higher end blade steels and a bit higher level of fit and finish with ZT, but you pay a bit more as well. I don't know that I would rate one company firmly above the other, but I also wouldn't hesitate to buy from either one.
 
Overall Benchmades are my favorites, but I'm buying more Spydercos. The Paramilitary is a good choice and I'm going to try the Manix and/or the Gayle Bradley. I am very interested in the ZT 0200 and 0560 but they might be heavier duty knives than what I need for my EDC use.

I think a person could buy only Benchmades and not miss out on anything, but then I'm learning that the same thing could be said for Spyderco. I think ZT's are made even better and I want to try them, but they don't make smaller knives so not many people could get by with buying only from ZT.
 
Spyderco Gayle Bradley!! If you need a harder use knife than that, I'd like to know what you're doin.. :)

ZT's are good tho. It's hard to beat the value of a 0550, or 0560.
 
rhswanson said:
What's your budget? Reason for having it? What specs or metal do you like or prefer?
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Cutting stuff ( said in my slowest southern drawl)

Normal tasks , mail , boxes, food, rope, wood etc. as for budget dont really want to go over 4 bills .as far as steel any hard use tool steel is preferred just because,
I think like most of you I have no need of something that is gonna fail if i do need to use it for something above and beyond .

Reason , want to carry something a little different then my normal esse or rodent .

the ZT brand it seems is often mentioned in the same sentence as rick henderer and his knives are sweet but I cant afford his products now.

Thank you all for your comments .

Shayne
 
Well if your budget is around $400, I would say check our Strider. Great heavy use knives.
ZT has a couple of knives that were designed by Hinderer, but they are definitely not Hinderer's.
The ZT 0550/1 and 0560/1 are the models you're thinking of.
They're both great knives and I've carried and used both.
But for an all around EDC, even for heavier use, I tend to use other knives now.
ZT's are incredibly strong folders, but there are others out there that compete and have similar materials or better and great fit and finish for the same price or lower.

It really depends on your preference, but there are many note-worthy knives out there.
 
BladeChick777 said:
ZT's are incredibly strong folders, but there are others out there that compete and have similar materials or better and great fit and finish for the same price or lower.
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Can you suggest some alternatives? I have looked favourably at ZTs, but I'd like to hear of some other worthy options.
 
BladeChick777 said:
Well if your budget is around $400, I would say check our Strider. Great heavy use knives.
ZT has a couple of knives that were designed by Hinderer, but they are definitely not Hinderer's.
The ZT 0550/1 and 0560/1 are the models you're thinking of.
They're both great knives and I've carried and used both.
But for an all around EDC, even for heavier use, I tend to use other knives now.
ZT's are incredibly strong folders, but there are others out there that compete and have similar materials or better and great fit and finish for the same price or lower.

It really depends on your preference, but there are many note-worthy knives out there.
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Yes please elaborate .


just had a look at strider , do you mean mick strider ? either way I notice two things one strider knives are mostly sold out on the sites I looked at and two the price tag over a grand .

Looking to get the most for my money of course . I know everybody has different requirements and dislikes but I always like to listen to experience.

Thanks

Shayne.
 
Arfropubes said:
I keep reading about ZT and they do look nice but how do they compare to Bm ?
Thanks

Shayne.
Click to expand...

Some of my earliest knives were BenchMade. They are still an okay company. ZT, however, is a spinoff from Kershaw but still retains their fine service network, IIRC. ZT's can talk. Two words only. HEAVY-DUTY. They can get heavy for EDC if you buy the wrong ones. I love the 0350 series; so does my 42-yr-old kid. They are relatively thin, light, and tough as nails.
I have/had the 0550/0551 series, which is a collaboration between Hinderer and ZT, a great workhorse of a knife but heavy for casual EDC. many models. You can pick your fingernails or pry nailed 2x4's apart. Concentrate on checking out their line.
Sonnydaze
 
I should add I live in China and have no way to see in person any knives . in fact what ever I choose will have to come through the back door as it were. makes it hard to return ya know.

shayne
 
Arfropubes said:
Yes please elaborate .


just had a look at strider , do you mean mick strider ? either way I notice two things one strider knives are mostly sold out on the sites I looked at and two the price tag over a grand .

Looking to get the most for my money of course . I know everybody has different requirements and dislikes but I always like to listen to experience.

Thanks

Shayne.
Click to expand...

Those were mick strider customs, and yes, Strider customs do run over a grand. There are production versions that run $400-500. They're easy enough to find in many different flavors from many different dealers. A quick Google search for "Strider sng (or smf if you want bigger) for sale" should get you pointed in the right direction.
 
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